Fruit sectionizing machine

Abstract

Apparatus and method for sectioning oranges and other fruit which preferably has been previously cored and peeled. Fruit is positioned over a spindle and allowed to move preferably downwardly into a plurality of revolving, circular blades whose respective peripheries are in edge adjacent relationship to said spindle. The fruit in passing through these blades is sectioned. Blades can be offset from a radially extending relationship to said spindle if desired for obtaining oblique angles of sectionizing.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus adapted for sectioning cored fruit comprising supporting frame means,   an upstanding stationary spindle associated in a base region thereof with said frame means having an axis and having a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced slot means defined therein, the maximum diameter of said spindle being less than the diameter of the core cavity in such cored fruit,   a plurality of rotatable circular blade means, each said blade means having an axis and including an associated axially located stub shaft means and journal means,   individual blade means of said plurality being positioned in circumferentially spaced relationship to one another by said frame means about said spindle axis, each said blade means axis having generally the same angular relationship to radii from said spindle axis, the peripheral edge of each said blade means being in spaced, proximate relationship to a different one of said slot means,   a power head,   a shaft system rotatably drivable by said powerhead, including journal means supporting same by said frame means, said shaft system operatively extending circumferentially about said peripheral blade means edges in radially spaced relationship thereto, and   a plurality of power transfer means, each said power transfer means being adapted to transfer rotational power in a direction generally radially relative to said shaft system from said drivable shaft system to each one of said blade means for rotatably driving said blade means, whereby such cored fruit in being sectioned passes along said spindle through said plurality of blades without radial expansion forces acting thereon due to the shape of said spindle.     
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said blade means extends generally radially relative to said spindle axis. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each said blade means extends generally obliquely relative to said spindle axis with each said blade means being inclined at a similar angle relative to intersecting radii from said spindle axis. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spindle is fixed to said frame means. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said spindle is demountably mounted to said frame means. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axis of each one of said blade means is generally perpendicularly oriented relative to the axis of said spindle and the axes of said blade means of said plurality are generally located in a common plane. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft system comprises (A) a plurality of power transfer stations, each one located in spaced, adjacent relationship to a different one of said peripheral blade edges, and in circumferentially spaced relationship to the other such power transfer stations,   (B) first linkage means for transferring power from said power head to one of said power transfer stations, and   (C) second linkage means for transferring power from each one of said power stations to circumferentially adjacent ones of said power transfer stations, and wherein said one of said power transfer means comprises a bearing mount means associated with said frame means and a shaft journaled therein.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first linkage means comprises a drive pulley mounted on said power head and drivable thereby, a driven pulley associated with said one power transfer station and located for driving by said drive pulley, and endless belt means interconnecting and extending around the respective circumferences of said drive pulley and said driven pulley. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each said second linkage means comprises flexible shaft means. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second linkage means comprises a pair of edge engaging plates, each plate being supported by a shaft rotatably associated with a different but adjacent one of said power transfer stations, the rim portion of one of said plates being adapted to drive rotatably the rim portion of the other of said plates. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each one of said power transfer stations has a transfer pulley associated with said shaft thereof, each one of said blade means has another pulley aligned with said transfer pulley which is coaxially mounted therewith and adapted for driving same, and endless belt means interconnects said transfer pulley and said other pulley. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spindle is hollow. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus adapted for sectioning cored fruit comprising (A) supporting frame means including ground engaging means, members defining a closed loop which is vertically spaced from and horizontally extends over said ground engaging members, upstanding supporting members between said ground engaging member means and said closed loop members, and a plurality of inwardly extending bracket arms from said closed loop each terminating in about equally spaced relationship to the center region of said closed loop,   (B) an elongated upstanding stationary spindle in said central region whose base portion joins said grounding engaging member means, said spindle having a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced slot means defined therein, the maximum diameter of said spindle being less than the diameter of the core cavity in such cored fruit,   (C) a plurality of rotatable circular blade means, each said blade means including an associated axial stub shaft means and journal means, each said blade means being mounted to a different end portion of one said bracket arm, each said blade means being located in circumferentially spaced relationship to one another relative to said spindle with (1) the axis of each said blade means being generally perpendicular to the axis of said spindle,   (2) all axes of said plurality of blade means being generally located in a common plane,   (3) the peripheral edge of each said blade means being in spaced but proximate relationship to a different one of said slot means,     (D) a plurality of rotatable first pulley means, each one associated with a different one of said stub shaft means and adapted to drive rotatably the associated blade means,   (E) a plurality of rotatable second pulley means, each one including axisl shaft means and journal means, and further including holding bracket means mounting such to said frame means generally operatively aligned with a different one of said first pulley means, there being one said second pulley means for each said circular blade means, each said second pulley means being located in circumferentially spaced relationship to one another relative to said spindle with each said holding bracket being secured to said closed loop adjacent the peripheral edge of a different one of said blade means,   (F) a plurality of drive belt means, each said drive belt means operatively engaging a different so aligned pair of said first and second pulley means,   (G) power transfer means and interconnecting means interconnecting said respective second pulley means for common rotational movements, and   (H) a powerhead adapted to rotatably drive said second pulley means, whereby such cored fruit in being sectioned passes along said spindle through said plurality of blades without radial expansion forces acting thereon due to the shape of said spindle.     
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said spindle is demountably mounted to said ground engaging member means. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said ground engaging member means at least in the region of said spindle has downwardly receding side edge portions relative to said spindle. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said spindle is hollow. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said blade means extends generally radially relative to said spindle axis. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said blade means extends obliquely relative to said spindle axis with each said blade means being inclined at a similar angle relative to intersecting radii from said spindle axis.